Dental-floss holder.



B. P. ROACH.

DENTAL FLOSS HOLDER. APPLICATION FILED APR.24. 19l6.

Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

leaving a free e er end of the holder in such manner as to p If desired,vthe t the handle by 45 parts, which 50 'tive view 7 with the yoke UN ED STATES BENJAMIN P.

BOACH, or nmmmemilh summit innnmn ntoss 110mm Application filcdApi-il 2 v To all wlwmit may concern? Be it known that I, BENJAMIN P, RQACH, a citizen of the United States oiaAmerica, residing at Birmingham, 'in the. county of- Jefferson and State ofAlabnma, have vented certain new and Vnseful Improvements in Dental-Floss Holders of which the following is a specification My invention relates to a, dental appliance which is intended to hold a str'undiof dental floss so thatit ca-nbe worked between. the" teeth without requiring the operatorto in: serthis"fingers in the mouth as is the-pres- I "entpractice; 1' In itsipreferred form ,nppliancewith a=-tnbnl ar handle -;ad:tpted to, contain the dental llos s so wound that it may he drnwn ont throughthe top closure in {he sarne inunner nsflossjis now oidruwn fzwn the contiiiners in w llCll it is ld on the ln:n-ket.--==.'l.histubnlnnhiindle carries a (loss liohlcrwvhicli utits rear end is gjsemi-circnlnrin cross SQClZlOllilljll hinged to the handle so as tote-unwed into iilinement 5 therewith in, which position it willelnmp 1* thedentnl floss between it and thehnndle, nd which'is wound about at which is if idle Lan yoke at the out resent the floss 1n convenient manner for boil holder can be used without pnjn'iding ,a;,suitaible clamp 'means thereo formed by the holder and handle and hold prises. among other feanner .inwhich the free use is nn dejast" to the My invention com a turcs, the novel 1'n:i end of the "dental 1fl holder afteia being-Wound thereomaand also the manner-in which ftlle; holder itself is 1 shapcd=to foldwdownagainstthehandle for convenience in shipment and stora e. f

Myim ention also comprises 0t )8! novel details of construction and arrangements of if) their preferred, embodiment only are illustrated an the 'accompanyin drawings, which form-a partof this spec cetion',iund, in which .-:j

Figure lishows" my appliance in perspec-J armandfloss in; operetin positioni-" Figi 2 show's" the appliance wit 1 the. holden arm in collapsed posi- -ti0n. Fig. 3 is a vertical-section through the haindle showing the holder arm'moving into 5 "position to clamp the floss. Fig, 4 is a detail View o i.floss;is adepted tobe Iihave designed my,

endis-a iflat sprin 1g manipulated in the mouth.

n totake-the placeof the-clamp I curved the cap-end spring, the letter cification ogre-em Patent. t ted De 26, 191

4, 191a. Serial m. 93,259.

nection with the dotted Fig. 5 is en enlarged d floss holder with a ent for clamping both being shown in con parts of the handle view of theyoke en modified o'rra-ngem ends of the-floss.

Similar reference numerals refer to simi glar parts throughout the drawings.

Iv-As illustrated in Figs. l-to 4, the applinnce comprises a tubularlhendle 1 having its .lower end 2; closed and having at its upper "end-1a rel'riovhble cup 3 which has a punched JPPJ HQ S cntter on one side and on the other side aln'opening 5 through which the drawn off from a coil ..or.; spool '6 thereof; within the handle. Mounted within the handle near its upper g7, disposed axially of the mg e pushbutton 8 at an cunt-and st itsfree en'd a slntelrpin oth the pin and push button ,--;,u 'ork' throughsuitable openings in the band} project beyond the same, the catch ifgin'being disposed near the end and slightly e 'eledtjgn; one side; The cap v3 has its ..-fl;1ng'e 10 ,cut away so as to clear the spring, which-lament) engaging, the side walls of 'the-n0tch, will prevent t ecap from rotating; and holdthe opening 5 for the floss at i the point desired. I connect to the handle a floss holding armlI which is formed by a. 'cnrved plate struck on an m substantially concentric withthe axis of the handle 1 which is cylindrical. At the rear end of the arm lgarovide t'wo oppositely projecting dhandle imd curr intermediate 5 angles 12, which with the arm form a .half circle 1n cross section. The free ends oithese flanges 12 are pivotally connected ypins orrivets 13 to the top of the handle in t such position that the half circular portion 30f the armwill swing'on its pivots to bring 1 the farm either into ulinement with the handie, when in extended position, or to permit it .to fold down against the casing when i' collupsed.;'"* 'The arm has an openingll which is'edepted oslideo'ver and to receive the hatch in '9 which is automatically he arm striking its beveled face.

The pin 9 thus serves to hold 'thearm 11 in,

: operat g position... .Atits outer or yoked ,end the arm 'i's"providedQvithe-cnryed yoke .mcinbers'l5 end 16; which, togthezfiith the arm, form a half circle; but wh: mi) in clined forwardly so that their 9 ends stand well beyondthe end of the arm. ,The ends of the yoke arms 15 and 16 are notche at 17 to receiveand' hold the dengggl flqfi i seenrely holds it The free end oi the flQfiS L t r Patent, 1

2r as apparatus is then readv for use and 'inmembfli' Wm and :i new strand drawn out nud wound into wound about it,

o. dill'erent means from that already floss n, ohnnp and nutter lip 18 is stamped up at tightly in position, This is necessary to an intermediate point on the arm. At the prevent the pull on the floss working that '[orward end of the arm I out out it notch 19 end aloose. which opens through the outer end of the It is desirable that the handle 1 should mm and at one side of this notoli'l proyide be adapted to receive the ordinary holders stud 20. The pening inthe oop flior the for dent l floss but it is obvious that the dental (loss is disposed adjacent and on the Q 8 told be purchased. in coils at a relei t side of the arm 11 when the letter is in mind one n h s sed to charge the genthe position shown in Fig. 1. "tniuer, i I

19 In operation, assuming the handle ,1.-

lhe'devige ,qollup'sed takes 11 but charged with the dental floss and the arm l 'll' filfl IILQFQ in 1 ordinary entn ll. in collapsed position (Fig. 2) or for" flOSB 110K19 fill; ll} mealti effects a onough l ver to permit the end of the floss to 15 41 saving in i9 quentity-of flOSS 0011- be grasped hehindfl its rear ends. A length sumed, us on y small amount is required 5 of the floss is hen drawn out through the to be drewnoil to threfid th 'yoke arm and opening 5 ondthe holder arm 11 is oswung but very little mom than the portion achook to the osition shown in Fig. 1, in dotuully needle thro vnluwoy.

ing which it clumps the pol'bllm 9 1 (Fig. Having thus described my invention vhst of the floss between it and the handle and I laim as new: an ,,esire to secure by is then broughtiilfllllld. under and igl'wgpd 1, floss hold r having diver ent e'rnis along [lie arm 11, then up and out thrflllgl let one; folmmg a yoke, 11 055 guide the notch 19, then down around the outer notgh in dead of each arm, a flo guide lzzieeol? the mined-yoke nrm lli and through at the crotch olie for directing the 25 its notch 17, then stretohed across the neck floss with up roximu 1 a right angle turn 9c of the yoke, than caught in the notch of the to one side ,0 the yoke, a short post-like exarm 1?: anti passed up eround the outside tension at the end of the holder about, whic thereof until it comes oppsf im the stud Q4).- l l returning en of a s rand of floss is Hui-o it ism-ought under and loo east-012ml 53n- Fl to pp d, nd lamp-means the stud 20 and then brought up. hrough th on e hie; g awed f m the post-like ex- 9 notch 19 and alone the outside of though $9 1 39?! .9. b0 .l ive and held; 11 and caught under the clamp and cutie the @Ild'9 Q19 1551mm ,9; fiossin Service l8, where a sharp pull will sheoritfi free 011 lib? l end, lflavliag'it caught under the elump. 'llho A comprising a.

fiil sorted in the mouth of the patient, the floss wardly oul'vfi. .lvllgfil iz Hm? 9 K being held conveniently i osition, between yoke, floss guide notches at en g'ofthe tin-yoke arms 15 end U), to he worlced ireely yoke vurms, and u guide and double fasten; between th teeth. After use, the end, of ing means for the flow at the end of s,

40 the floss released from the clamp 18 and member comprismg ag ide about whieh one unwound from the yoke, the push button 8 end of the stmmd oi eunfbe pamd upis depressed and the arm swung forward, wardly and guided over; the outer side o after which h end of the loss Wlllch has one yoke lu'm, e stud lying in the plane of been in use isfent oil by'meuns of u cutter 4 the urm and dislz'gsed to receive and have lotei' ully and out- 1( position on the yoke arm. strund uftororosfimg the yoke and passing In Fig, 5 I show u modified iorm fifilglillp along the other oko arm, and means ing arm which may be used indeuendenfl. spaced from the on oftaid member and of the bundle l and 'hioh ls provided Wit ndnpted to receive end hold the ends of the scribed forholding the floss in position on A, entixl' fies holder comprising a; the yoke end of the arm. In this eonstruo= tubule: floss holdi J5 handle, a member tion the arm is provided in-addition to the hinged to the hundesud adapted to fold clam) member 18 with a similunuud Teugumstit, a you It said member formed -'ln this uriungemen one end of the oss is olusp the bundle in Oldfld osltion, and, cuught under the e um: ljp 8 and is then menus to hold a strand of one strobe passed around the yoke 1m 56 verse y fiilfi'hfi td clump and cutter 1'2) 18}. 'by divergent arms ode; ted t o embraee and 1 t o mgnnpr al acme: the ends of said yoke arms. ready described and its free end ls been 4. A dental floss, holder comprising n.

4 buck. and pussed first around the clamp is: handle t yo connected to the handle 1 1S and thou around the clamp lip 18und and u noted with the handle to form it snapped oil. It will be noted that the tenolump'for one end of e piece of dental sinus of the two lapping strundsunder the floss, said urni huving at its outer and u lip 18 re opposite to each other so that the yoke and a. guide, said guide being in, posiouter strand tends to hold the inner end tion to hold the loss disposed to be passed 1 across the neck of the yoke and around the other yoke arm, and a clam near the end of the arm to receive and ho d the freeend of the floss.

In a dental floss holder, in combination a tubular handle adapted to contain a coil of dental floss, said handle having an opening through which the floss can be drawn out, an arm comprising a yoke-like member at one end pivoted to the handle and adapted to receive and clamp the floss between it and the handle, a'yoke at the other end of said arm, there being a notch, a stud, and a clamp near the free oke end of the arm for guidin and he ding the floss stretched across the neck of the yoke.

H. In a dental floss holder, a tubular container adapted to contain a coil of floss and forming a handle and having an open tured closure at one end through which the floss is drawn out, an arm carrying a yokelike member pivoted near said closure, and said yoke-like member being adapted in one position to engage one side of the end of the container and Form therewith a floss rlainp, and in its other position to swing over and fold against the other side of the container, a yoke-like member at the free end of saidarni, and means to guide and hold a strand around said latter yoke-like na-mber. substantially as described.

T In a dental floss holder, a tubular contairier adapted to contain a coil of floss and forming a handle portion, an arm pivoted to one end of said holder, which holder end is provided with an opening through which the [loss is drawn out, said arm having substantially semi-circular yoke-like members at each end, one yoke end being pivoted to thetontainer in position to permit th arm to be swung into line with the container or to be swung into collapsed position against the container, catch means to hold the arm in its extended position, and means to guide and fasten a strand of floss about the free yoke end o'fithe arm, substantially as described.

8. In combination, a tubular floss; holder open at one; end, an apertured closure for said end, a Rose bearing member formed by a metal arm curved in cross section throughout and provided at each end with yoke arms, the arms at one end being pivoted to the holder near said closure and adapted to swing 6 :er the end of the holder, the arms at the outer end having end notches and there being a notch in the free end. of the arm, a. stud near said latter notch, and floss clamping means on the arm,

S). A. dental floss holder comprising an arm formed of sheet metal arched in trans verse cross section and having an integral floss clamping and cutting lip struck up therefrom, divergent curved yoke arms with end notches, there being a notch. midway between the yoke arms, an' integral post about which one end of the strand is adapted to be wrapped after being passed over the yoke and from which it is passed through said middle notch and back to the lip, means to hold one end of the strand in position to be passed along under the arm and upwardly through said middle notch before passing to the yoke, and a clamp means on. the arm to receive the free end of the. strand, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature.

BENJAMIN P- ROACH.

itness Noun. Wnnsu. 

